Adjustable sports-club trainer arrangement

ABSTRACT

A swing trainer apparatus for the teaching of a sport player the proper follow-through of a swing to hit a ball or puck. The swing trainer apparatus comprises a movable hanger assembly supporting a plurality of swing resistant straps and a support arrangement for adjustably supporting the hanger assembly, to permit the swing resistant straps to be moved for different sport players.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to an apparatus for improving the swing ofa player utilizing a sports bat, club or racquet, and is a continuationin part application of my co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/740,769 filed Dec. 19, 2000, and is incorporated herein by reference,in its entirety.

[0003] 2. Prior Art

[0004] The attainment of success in any sport requires concentration,muscle development and “follow-through”, particularly in those sportsutilizing a bat, club, or a racquet. “Follow-through” may be defined ascompleting the swing of that bat, club or racquet through an arc from aninitial start position, then around and into the strike zone, andthereafter maintaining that swing until the player's arm has been fullyextended. The necessity for such follow-through is often a requirementfor directing the ball or puck in the direction in which the player hasintended and for providing the power to drive the ball or puck withmaximum force. Such follow-through, though, is a difficult lesson tolearn and to remember. Muscle memory would ensure that such followthrough would take place if the player could in fact develop such amuscle memory capability.

[0005] The sports of baseball, golf, tennis, and hockey all require anarcuate and full swing of a bat, club, or racquet. Other body motionother than movement of the arm is also required. It is thus significantto instill in the player, a muscle memory so that such follow throughbecomes automatic.

[0006] There exists no arrangement or apparatus to instill upon theplayer, the reminder that the follow-through be undertaken each time,except for a coach or personal trainer who must otherwise be presentduring practice or playing and remind that player each time a swing isundertaken.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich will provide a sport player with the follow-through skillsnecessary which are not taught by the prior art.

[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide asport skill training device which does not require assistance tooperate.

[0009] It is still yet a further object of the present invention toprovide a realistic sports swing training apparatus which is adaptableto a number of sports so that its use may be appreciated by a number ofdifferent players.

[0010] It is a still yet further object of the present invention toprovide a sport training apparatus which is stepwise adaptable to theimproving skill level of the particular player or user of thatapparatus.

[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a bator racket swing training apparatus which is adaptable for attachment toexisting sports equipment such as basketball hoops with minimal effortand equipment.

[0012] It is a further object of the present invention which isrotatably adaptable for left or right handed players.

[0013] It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide aswing trainer which is heightwise variable for different height players.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention comprises an improved, movably supportedswing trainer apparatus for instructing a player of baseball, tennis,hockey or golf, in the lessons of “following through” with the swing oftheir bat, racquet, club or stick.

[0015] The swing trainer apparatus of the present invention comprises avertically supported hanger assembly comprised of a housing, a pluralityof downwardly extending flexible, spaced-apart swing resistant strapssupported within that housing. The housing has an upper portion definedas a hanger assembly with an elongated, bendable spring, extendingvertically therefrom. The bendable spring has an upper end which isattached to a vertically adjustable hanger post. The hanger post isadjustably lockable within a generally cylindrically shaped post-bearinghousing. The post bearing housing is arranged on the distal end of asupport arm. The support arm has a proximal end which is fixedlyattached to an enclosure bearing. The enclosure bearing is a generallycylindrically shaped housing which is vertically adjustable on a mainsupport post.

[0016] The main support post may be telescopable, and is verticallyadjustable itself into a post housing arranged about the lowermost endof the support post. The post housing is a generally cylindricallyshaped member having a lower end which is fixedly attached to a supportpost base. The support post is heightwise adjustable with respect to thepost housing, through a plurality of spaced apart openings which receivea lower adjustment bolt therethrough. The lower adjustment bolt rides onthe upper edge of the post housing to permit the vertical adjustment ofthe support post with respect to the post housing. A support post isswingable with respect to the lower post housing, to permit the entireassembly to be rotated about the vertical axis of the support post.

[0017] The main support post preferably also has a plurality ofvertically spaced apart adjustment openings near its uppermost end. Anupper adjustment bolt is arranged through the enclosure bearing toengage successively any one of the spaced apart adjustment openings inthe upper end of the support post, to permit the support arm to bevertically raised or lowered with respect to that main support post.

[0018] The frame of the hanger assembly as aforementioned supports aplurality of generally horizontally arranged strap support rods andvertically disposed swing resistant straps arranged thereon. That frameassembly may have a peripheral shape which defines in one embodimentwherein a “home plate” shape is configured as its “footprint” so as toprovide a player or user of this apparatus, with a realistic and propergeometric and spacial swing area in which a baseball would likely travelfor that player to swing at.

[0019] The plurality of vertically disposed swing resistant straps havea foremost strap or straps which may present a target thereon. Such atarget in one preferred embodiment, may be the representation of abaseball. Such a target representation may of course be adjustedvertically depending upon the height of the player being instructed.

[0020] The hanger post in the post bearing on the distal end of thesupport arm may be rotated about its vertical axis 180 degrees so as toprovide that target to an alternatively handed player that is a lefthanded player or a right handed player.

[0021] When a player being instructed to follow-through with his or herswing, the bat or sports racquet will swing through the swing resistantstraps thus providing the muscle tone and memory, to encourage such afollow through for proper playing of the sport. The vertically disposedbendable spring arranged between the upper side of the hanger assemblyand the lower portion of the hanger post will yield and may twistsomewhat so as to not provide too much resistance and injure the playerduring long practice sessions.

[0022] The swing resistant straps are hung in a parallel array on aplurality of removable parallel strap support rods. Initial practicewith this apparatus, may consist of only utilizing several parallelsupport rods with the swing resistant straps thereon. Each of the swingresistant straps may be held in an overlapping relationship to the strapsupport rods and held in that position by a fastener, such as a rivet.Those flexible straps may be changed, and may be slidably adjustable onthose support rods in the support rod axial direction of those asdesired by the player being trained.

[0023] A further embodiment of the present invention may consist of thehanger post and hanger assembly being vertically supported on anattachment bracket arrangement. The attachment bracket arrangement iscomprised of an upper hoop bracket connector and a lower hoop bracketconnector. The upper hoop bracket connector and the lower hoop bracketconnector mate about the ring of a basketball hoop, so as to provide theswing trainer assembly to be utilized on an existing piece of sportsequipment, such as a basketball hoop with its typical backboard andbasketball hoop support post supporting that assembly.

[0024] The attachment bracket arrangement or bracket connector in thisembodiment comprises a lower post bearing in the lower hoop bracketconnector, and an upper post bearing for receipt of the upper portion ofthe hanger post therethrough. A receiving opening extends through thelower post bearing so as to permit an adjustment bolt to be receivedthrough the adjustment hole and into the receiving openings in the upperend of the hanger post. This permits the hanger post to be verticallyadjustable with respect to the connector bracket arrangement attached tothe basketball hoop. The lower hoop bracket connector and the upper hoopbracket connector may each have a plurality of radially directed armswhich are in vertical alignment with one another on either side of thebasketball hoop. Each radially directed arm may have an openingtherethrough for receipt of a connector bolt. The arms each have aflange or lip on their radially outer or distalmost end to engage theouter periphery of the basketball hoop to lock that connectorarrangement therearound. The connector bolts secure the upper hoopbracket connector to the lower hoop bracket connector both connectorsthus being securedly fixed to the basketball hoop.

[0025] Thus, such a hanger assembly may vertically support a pluralityof swing resistant straps from an existing sports apparatus such as abasketball hoop, while providing the same vertical adjustment withrespect to those swing resistant straps and also providing the bendablespring arranged between the lower portion of the hanger post and theupperpost portion of the hanger assembly to permit the yielding of thatassembly as a bat or racquet is pushed through the swing resistantstraps.

[0026] The invention thus comprises a swing trainer apparatus for theteaching of a sport player the proper follow-through of a swing to hit aball or puck. The said swing trainer apparatus comprises a movablehanger assembly supporting a plurality of swing resistant straps; asupport arrangement for adjustably supporting the hanger assembly, topermit the swing resistant straps to be moved for different sportplayers. The movable hanger may comprise a frame for supporting thestraps in a vertical array. The support arrangement may comprise ahanger post attached to the hanger assembly. The hanger post may be isvertically adjustable. The hanger post may be rotatably adjustable abouta vertical axis. The hanger post may be supported on an elongatedsupport arm. The support arm may be supported on a main support post.The support arm may be rotatable about a vertical axis of the mainsupport post. The support arm may be vertically adjustable with respectto the main post, by an adjustment bold disposed therebetween. Thestraps may be supported in a rectilinear configuration to define abaseball game “homeplate” shape for a player to swing a bat towards. Thesupport arrangement may be connected to an attachment bracket forsecurement to a basketball hoop. The attachment bracket may comprise anupper hoop bracket connector and a lower hoop bracket connector. Theupper hoop bracket connector and the lower hoop bracket connector aresecurable to the upper and lower sides of a basketball hoop ring. Theupper hoop bracket connector and the lower hoop bracket connector havean arrangement of radial arms extending from an upper and a lower posthousing respectively. The arms may have an outer end with a flangethereon to engage an outer edge of the basketball hoop ring. The upperhoop bracket connector and the lower hoop bracket connector are securedtogether on the ring by a plurality of bolts. At least one of the strapsmay have a swing target arranged thereon. The support assembly mayinclude an elongated twistable and bendable spring therewith. The springis preferably arranged between a hanger post and a hanger assembly topermit a player from being injured while swinging a bat or stick intothe straps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The objects and advantages of the present invention will becomemore apparent when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings inwhich:

[0028]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swing trainer apparatusconstructed according to the principles of the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 2 is a perspective of the hanger assembly and the swingresistant straps in an enlarged viewing thereof, similar to that shownin FIG. 1;

[0030]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a swing resistantstrap and its strap support rod arranged therewith; and

[0031]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a further embodiment of the presentinvention wherein the hanger assembly and swing resistant straparrangement may be fixedly and adjustably attached to an existing sportsapparatus such as a basketball hoop assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to FIG.1, there is shown the present invention which comprises a movablysupported swing trainer apparatus 10 for instructing a player ofbaseball, tennis, hockey or golf, in the lessons of “following through”with the swing of their bat, racquet, club or stick.

[0033] The swing trainer apparatus 10 of the present invention comprisesa vertically supported hanger assembly 12 comprised of a housing 14, aplurality of downwardly extending flexible, spaced-apart swing resistantstraps 16 supported within that housing 14. The housing 14 has an upperportion defined as a hanger assembly 18 with an elongated, bendable andtwistable coil spring 20 extending vertically therefrom. The bendablespring 20 has an upper end which is attached to a vertically adjustablehanger post 22, as shown in FIGS. 1 and. 3. The hanger post 22 isadjustably lockable within a generally cylindrically shaped post-bearinghousing 24, shown in FIG. 1. The post-bearing housing 22 is arranged onthe distal end of a support arm 26. The support arm 26 has a proximalend which is fixedly attached to an enclosure bearing 28. The enclosurebearing 28 is a generally cylindrically shaped housing which isvertically adjustable on a main support post 30, as represented in FIG.1.

[0034] The main support post 30 may be telescopable, and is verticallyand rotatably adjustable itself into a post housing 32 arranged aboutthe lowermost end of the support post 30. The post housing 32 ispreferably a generally cylindrically shaped member having a lower end 34which is fixedly attached to a support post base 36, which base 36 maybe movably supported on wheels, not shown for clarity. The support post32 is heightwise adjustable with respect to the post housing 34 througha plurality of longitudinally spaced apart openings 38 which receive alower adjustment bolt 40 therethrough. The lower adjustment bolt 40slidably rides on the upper edge 42 of the post housing 32, as shown inFIG. 1, to permit the vertical (and rotational) adjustment of thesupport post 30 with respect to the post housing 32, as represented bythe arrows “H” and “R” respectively. The support post 30 is thusswingable with respect to the lower post housing 32, to permit theentire assembly to be rotated about the vertical axis “V” of the supportpost 30.

[0035] The main support post 30 preferably also has a plurality ofvertically spaced apart adjustment openings 42 near its uppermost end,as shown in FIG. 1. An upper adjustment bolt 44 is arranged through theenclosure bearing 28 to engage successively any one of the spaced apartadjustment openings 42 in the upper end of the support post 30, topermit the support arm 26 to be vertically raised or lowered withrespect to that main support post 30.

[0036] The frame 14 of the hanger assembly 12 as aforementioned,supports a plurality of generally horizontally arranged strap supportrods 50 and vertically disposed swing resistant straps 16 arrangedthereon, as may be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. That frame assembly 12 mayhave a peripheral shape or contour which defines in one preferredembodiment as shown in FIG. 1, wherein a “home plate” shape isconfigured as its “footprint” 52, so as to provide a player or user ofthis apparatus 10 with a realistic and proper geometric and spacialswing area in which a baseball would likely travel for that player toswing.

[0037] The plurality of vertically disposed swing resistant straps 16have a foremost strap 54 or straps which may present a target 56thereon. Such a target in one preferred embodiment, as represented inFIGS. 1 and 2, may be the representation of a baseball 58. Such a targetrepresentation may of course be adjusted vertically depending upon theheight of the player being instructed.

[0038] The hanger post 22 in the post bearing 24 on the distal end ofthe support arm 26 may be rotated about its vertical axis 180 degrees,as represented by arrows “A”, so as to provide that target to analternatively handed player that is a left handed player or a righthanded player.

[0039] When a player being instructed to follow-through with his or herswing, the bat or sports racquet will swing through the swing resistantstraps thus providing the muscle tone and memory, to encourage such afollow through for proper playing of the sport. The vertically disposedbendable and twistable coil spring 28 arranged between the upper side ofthe hanger assembly 18 and the lower portion of the hanger post 22 willyield and may twist somewhat so as to not provide too much resistanceand injure the player during long practice sessions.

[0040] The swing resistant straps 16 are hung in a parallel array on aplurality of removable parallel strap support rods 50 as representedbest in FIG. 2. Initial practice with this apparatus, may consist ofonly utilizing several parallel support rods 50 with the swing resistantstraps 16 thereon. Each of the swing resistant straps 16 may be held inan overlapping relationship to the strap support rods 50 and held inthat position by a fastener, such as a rivet 60, as shown in FIG. 3.Those flexible straps 16 may be changed, and may be slidably adjustableon those support rods 50 in the support rod's 50 axial direction ofthose as desired by the player being trained.

[0041] A further embodiment of the present invention may consist of thehanger post and hanger assembly 12 being vertically supported on anattachment bracket arrangement 70, as shown in FIG. 4. The attachmentbracket arrangement 70 is comprised of an upper hoop bracket connector72 and a lower hoop bracket connector 74. The upper hoop bracketconnector 72 and the lower hoop bracket connector 74 mate about the ring76 of a basketball hoop 78, so as to provide the swing trainer assemblyto be utilized on an existing piece of sports equipment, such as abasketball hoop with its typical backboard and basketball hoop supportpost 80 supporting that assembly 12.

[0042] The attachment bracket arrangement or bracket connector 70 inthis embodiment comprises a lower post bearing 82 in the lower hoopbracket connector 74, and an upper post bearing 84 for vertical androtatable adjustable receipt of the upper portion 86 of the hanger post12 therethrough. A receiving opening 88 extends through the lower postbearing 82 so as to permit an adjustment bolt 90 to be received throughthe adjustment hole 88 and into the receiving openings 92 in the upperend of the hanger post 12. This permits the hanger post 12 to bevertically adjustable with respect to the connector bracket arrangement70 attached to the basketball hoop 78. The lower hoop bracket connector74 and the upper hoop bracket connector 72 may each have a plurality ofradially directed arms 94 which are in vertical alignment with oneanother on either side of the basketball hoop ring 76. Each radiallydirected arm 94 may have an opening 96 therethrough for receipt of aconnector bolt 98. The arms 94 each have a flange or lip 100 on theirradially outer or distalmost end to engage the outer periphery of thebasketball hoop ring 76 to lock that connector arrangement therearound.The connector bolts 98 secure the upper hoop bracket connector 72 to thelower hoop bracket connector 74, both connectors 72 and 74 thus beingsecuredly fixed to the ring 76 of the basketball hoop 78.

[0043] Thus, such a hanger assembly may vertically support a pluralityof swing resistant straps from an existing sports apparatus such as abasketball hoop, while providing the same vertical adjustment withrespect to those swing resistant straps and also providing the bendablespring arranged between the lower portion of the hanger post and theupperpost portion of the hanger assembly to permit the yielding of thatassembly as a bat or racquet is pushed through the swing resistantstraps.

I claim:
 1. A swing trainer apparatus for the teaching of a sport playerthe proper follow-through of a swing to hit a ball or puck, said swingtrainer apparatus comprising: a movable hanger assembly supporting aplurality of swing resistant straps; a support arrangement foradjustably supporting said hanger assembly, to permit said swingresistant straps to be moved for different sport players.
 2. The swingtrainer apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said movable hangercomprises a frame for supporting said straps in a vertical array.
 3. Theswing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said supportarrangement comprises a hanger post attached to said hanger assembly. 4.The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 3; wherein said hangerpost is vertically adjustable.
 5. The swing trainer apparatus as recitedin claim 3, wherein said hanger post is rotatably adjustable about avertical axis.
 6. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 3,wherein said hanger post is supported on an elongated support arm. 7.The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said supportarm is supported on a main support post.
 8. The swing trainer apparatusas recited in claim 6, wherein said support arm is rotatable about avertical axis of said main support post.
 9. The swing trainer apparatusas recited in claim 6, wherein said support arm is vertically adjustablewith respect to said main post, by an adjustment bold disposedtherebetween.
 10. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 2,wherein said straps are supported in a configuration to define ahomeplate shape for a player to swing a bat towards.
 11. The swingtrainer apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said supportarrangement is connected to an attachment bracket for securement to abasketball hoop.
 12. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 11,wherein said attachment bracket comprises an upper hoop bracketconnector and a lower hoop bracket connector.
 13. The swing trainerapparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said upper hoop bracketconnector and said lower hoop bracket connector are securable to theupper and lower sides of a basketball hoop ring.
 14. The swing trainerapparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said upper hoop bracketconnector and said lower hoop bracket connector have an arrangement ofradial arms extending from an upper and a lower post housingrespectively.
 15. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 14,wherein said arms have an outer end with a flange thereon to engage anouter edge of said ring.
 16. The swing trainer apparatus as recited inclaim 14, wherein said upper hoop bracket connector and said lower hoopbracket connector are secured together on said ring by a plurality ofbolts.
 17. The swing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein atleast one of said straps has a swing target arranged thereon.
 18. Theswing trainer apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said supportassembly includes an elongated twistable and bendable spring therewithto minimize any shock of hitting said straps.
 19. The swing trainerapparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein said spring is arrangedbetween a hanger post and a hanger assembly to permit a player frombeing injured while swing a bat or stick into said straps.
 20. The swingtrainer apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein a hanger post from aframe carrying said straps is vertically arranged through said hoopconnector brackets to permit said frame to be vertically adjusted withrespect to said basketball ring.